Graver things

Come in their turn. Morning and evening brings
Its holy office; and the sabbath bell,

That over wood and wild, and mountain-dell,
Wanders so far, chasing all thoughts unholy,
With sounds most musical, most melancholy,
Not on his ear is lost. Then he pursues
The pathway leading through the aged yews,
Nor unattended; and when all are there,
Pours out his spirit in the House of Prayer,-
That House with many a funeral-garland hung,
Of virgin white-memorials of the young;

The last yet fresh when marriage chimes were ringing,
And hope and joy in other hearts were springing ;—
That House where age led in by filial love,—
Their looks composed, their thoughts on things above,
The world forgot, or all its wrongs forgiven-
Who would not say they trod the path to Heaven?

Rogers' Human Life.

25

CHAPTER III.

LIFE OF THE GENTRY IN THE COUNTRY.

ONE of the chief features of the life of the nobility and gentry of England, is their annual visit to the metropolis; and it is one which has a most essential influence upon the general character of rural life itself. The greater part of the families of rank and fortune, flock up to town annually, as punctually as the Jews flocked up to Jerusalem at the time of the Passover; and it may be said for the purpose of worship too, though worship of a different kindthat of fashion. A considerable portion of them being, more or less, connected with one or other House of Parliament, go up at the opening of Parliament, generally in February, and remain there till the adjournment, often in July; but the true season does not commence till April.

When April verdure springs in Grosvenor Square,

Then the furred beauty comes to winter there.—Rogers.

Much has been said of the evil effect of this aristocratic habit, of spending so much time in the metropolis; of the vast sums there spent in ostentatious rivalry, in equipage and establishments; in the dissipations of theatres, operas, routes, and gaming

houses; and unquestionably, there is much truth in it. On the other hand, it cannot be denied that this annual assembling together has some advantages. A great degree of knowledge and refinement results from it, amid all the attendant folly and extravagance. The wealthy are brought into contact with vast numbers of their equals and superiors, and that sullen and haughty habit of reserve is worn off, which is always contracted by those who live in solitary seclusion, in the midst of vast estates, with none but tenants and dependents around them. They are also brought into contact with men of talent, and intelligence. They move amongst books and works of art, and are induced by different motives to become patrons and possessors of these things. If they spend large sums in splendid houses and establishments in town, such houses and such establishments become equally necessary to them in the country; and it is by this means that, instead of old and dreary castles and chateaus, we have such beautiful mansions, so filled with rich paintings and elegant furniture, dispersed all over England. From these places, as centres existing here and there, similar tastes are spread through the less wealthy classes, and the elegancies of life flow into the parsonages, cottages, and abodes of persons of less income and less intercourse with society. In town, undoubtedly, a vast number of the aristocracy spend their time and money very foolishly; but it is equally true, that many others spend theirs very beneficially to the country. Men of fortune from all quarters of the kingdom there meet, and everything which regards the improvement of their estates is discussed. They

hear of different plans pursued in different parts of
the kingdom. They make acquaintances, and these
acquaintances lead to visits, in which they observe,
and copy all that can add to the embellishment of
their abodes, and the value and productiveness of
their gardens and estates. If many acquire a relish
only for Newmarket, and the gaming club, and a
strong distaste for the quiet enjoyments of the country;
many, on the other hand, come down to their estates
after a season of hurry and over-excitement, with a
fresh feeling for the beauty and repose of their
country abodes. The possessors of great houses and
estates, invite a party to spend the recess, or espe-
cially, the shooting season with them. Thus the
world of fashion is broken up and scattered from the
metropolis into a multitude of lesser circles, and into
every corner of the empire. I can conceive nothing
which bears on its surface the aspect of the perfection
of human society, so much as this assembling of a
choice party of those who have nothing to do but to
enjoy life, in the house of some hospitable wealthy
man, in some one of the terrestrial paradises of this
kingdom,-far off, in some retired vale of England,
where the country and its manners remain almost as
simple and picturesque as they did ages ago.
some fine Elizabethan mansion, some splendid baro-
nial castle, as Warwick, Alnwick, or Raby; or in
some rich old abbey; amid woods and parks, or
seated on one of our wild coasts; or amid the moun-
tains of Wales or Scotland, with all their beautiful
scenery, rocks, hanging cliffs, dashing water-falls,
rapid rivers, and fairy wildernesses around them.
Here, assembled from the crush and rush of London

In

in its fulness, with new books and new music brought down with them; with plenty of topics suggested by the incidents of the past season in the saloons of the fashionable, and in parliament; with every luxury before them; with fine shrubberies and parks, and with every vehicle and facility for riding and driving through field or forest, or sailing on river or ocean; if people are not happy in such circumstances, where is the fault?

And imagine the possessor of a noble estate coming down to receive his friends there. To a high and generous mind there must be something very delightful. When he enters his own neighbourhood, he enters his own kingdom. The very market-town through which he last passes, is probably, totally or three-fourths of it his property. If he be a kind and liberal man, the respect which is there testified towards him, has in it the most cordial of flatteries. When he touches his own land, everything acknowledges his absolute sway. On all sides he sees symptoms of welcome. Wherever he looks, they are the woods, the parks, the fields of his ancestors, and now his own, that meet his eyes. The freshness and greenness of the fields, the sombre grandeur of the woods, the peaceful elegance of his house, all the odours of flowers breathing through the rooms, and the sight of rich fruits on his walls and in his hot-houses; after the heat, dust, crowding, noise, political contention, and turning night into day, of London, must be peculiarly grateful. Here he is sole lord and master; and from him, he feels, flow the good of his dependent people, and the pleasures of his distinguished guests. The same where